My nephews are interested in my samuari sword, which being functional is tucked away securely out of reach. It did occur to me that I have two more weapons, which equally need to be secured although lack the spiritual elegance of a katana.

I keep them as Relics to a past, idle as museum pieces but part of an important history for there is more than one story attached to them.

The following is an expression of looking at the two knives I once wielded not as a cutter but something altogether darker.

Relics

Dust clings to their ribs and palmed lined
heads like soot to skin.

Unearthed the sheaf’s hold their guard
protect the metallic ice

Relics with blood tainted edges of
The Devil himself.